Audio File: MGMT gets existential with “Loss of Life”
Written by Anna Porter. Graphic by Anna Porter.
MGMT has returned for the first time since 2018 with their fifth studio album, titled “Loss Of Life.” The best friend duo Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser have been making music together since their college days at Wesleyan University. Together they have traveled through a musical maze, composing anything from fun indie pop tunes to 13-minute neo-psychedelia masterpieces. The band is best known for their holy trinity of songs: “Kids,” “Electric Feel,” and “Time To Pretend” (which has recently resurged after its “Saltburn” feature). VanWyngarden and Goldwasser have always flown under the radar, and have led fairly private lives during their breaks from making music. “Loss Of Life” feels like a love letter to their tight and dedicated fanbase, mixing all of the best elements from their albums so far, yet expanding further on all that is existential and ephemeral.
I found that after compiling my thoughts on this album, I could write an entire 5-paragraph MLA-style essay on each track, but unfortunately, I will have to condense that for the sake of time. The album begins with the end: “Loss Of Life (part 2).” This track is a recitation of a poem from The Book of Taliesin, a Welsh manuscript that dates back to the 6th century. A synth melody is laid over the top of the words, both simplistic and haunting– a really intriguing sound that weaves itself back in at the end of the album. The poem references reincarnation, as the writer speaks about knowing all of the minute details of life because he’s lived in so many forms. Something MGMT does so well is reflecting ideas through sounds– although they didn’t write the poem, the instrumentals complement the ideas perfectly.
“Mother Nature” and “Dancing in Babylon” follow the opening track, two singles that are upbeat but vary sonically. “Mother Nature” is a charming and catchy song that is cryptic yet uplifting. “Dancing in Babylon” resembles an 80s power ballad, a very unusual sound for MGMT. While I don’t feel that the sound of the song matches the album, I do feel that the song lyrically introduces themes covered in the album, including family, love and loss.
The classic MGMT flute sounds come through in the track “People On The Street.” This song gets listeners acquainted with the common sound found throughout the rest of the album. VanWyngarden presents raw vocals that parallel many songs in MGMT’s debut album, “Oracular Spectacular.” The instrumentals in many of the songs find a perfect balance between digital and natural. Another common style you’ll find in many of the songs on the rest of this album is a grand finale in the last moments of the song, where the music crescendos into synth and drum heaven.
Midway through the album, we reach a fun series of songs– from Bubblegum Dog’s synth-produced howls and Oasis-adjacent guitar sounds to the catchy chorus of “Nothing Changes.” The band really gives listeners something new in “Phradie’s Song,” the first official MGMT lullaby. Fluttering bells and beautiful piano hug the sweet lyrics that VanWyngarden wrote for his (recently announced) 2-year-old daughter. “It felt like I couldn’t love anymore // entire symphonies // a holy light was gifted to me. And I will sing for you // every night if you want me to.” I’m not crying, you are.
The album closes with two of my personal favorites, “I Wish I Was Joking” and the title track, “Loss of Life.” The former incorporates some of the most literal MGMT lyrics to date, complete with a “Disney On Ice” reference. VanWyngarden sings about his appreciation for the mundanities of daily life, noting that he’s “kinda into being home.” The final track, “Loss Of Life,” perfectly ties together all of the themes from the album. Plucking harps, synth harmonies and Pink-Floyd-esque psychedelic tones come together to create a really unique piece. The lyrics in this final song are a message from the band about their interpretation of the meaning of life: “When the world is born and life is ending // then you learn to love your loss of life.”
VanWyngarden and Goldwasser continuously produce quality work, and I appreciate that they value musical authenticity over the quantity of releases. In fact, this album was released under an independent label after the band broke off from their agreement with Columbia Records. Listeners have stated their appreciation for this intimate and sonically mature album, and I believe that “Loss Of Life” will go down as one of MGMT’s best projects. In the end, there is loss, but MGMT’s music makes life a little better.
A full-time Graphic Design major/ Advertising & Branding minor and part-time music enthusiast, Anna Porter brings her love of art and design to SCAD District as the Creative Director. Anna leads the creative team in all things visual, from website design to publication design. Her writings can be found in the “Audio File,” District’s weekly music review column where Anna provides music updates and recommendations. If Anna is not designing or listening to music (rare,) you will probably find her in the other room making a cup of tea.
